The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-19
PIEDMONT HOSPITALITY.
THE PRESIDENT SPENDS THE DAY
AT THE GROUNDS.


dress of Welcome - Gov. Gordon
Compelled to Respond to tho Calls
of the Multitude-A Public Reception
Within the Exposition Enclosure.
ATLANTA, GA, Oct. 18.--This morning
dawned cloudy, showing a possibility of
rain. Trains are still arriving with thous-
ands of strangers, yet it is intimated that
900 or 1000 of those here last night failed
IN find beds. The corridors and stairs of
the Kimball House, where the President is
ouartered, had the appearance of hastily
made bivouac. Sleeping forms were lying
in all directions upon the floor and stairs.
Atlanta is prohibition town, and, despite
the crowd and enthusiasm, there is very
little drunkenness. The Presidential party
did not retire until 2 o'clock this morn
ing. it having been found impossible
10 get their baggage through the crowds
and to their rooms earlier. As a consequence
they breakfasted late this morning. At II
o'clock President Collier and Vice President
Grady called at the Presidents room and
escorted President and Mrs. Cleveland and
Postmaster General Villas to the capitol,
where they entered the Governors room,
and we're received by Gov. Gordon. The Wis
iting Governors, the Supreme Court Of
the State, members of the Governors staff,
the United States officials, municipal au-
thorities and members of the Legislature
were presented to the city's guests.
AT THE PIEDMONT
This ceremonial over, the distinguished
visitors, escorted by Gov. Gordon, Senators
Brown and Colquitt, and accompanied by
the visiting Governors and many other
Of 1od 10 io1u
Park, which is the exposition grounds. The
national salute was fired as the procession
entered the gates of the enclosure and pro
ceeded to the speakers stand The formal
tiles of the welcome to the President began
with prayer by Rev. Dr. Bartlett, of the
Presbyterian church, after which II. W.
Grady, Vice President of the Exposition in
a brief but eloquent speech, extended a
wei come to the President. He said:
LADIES AND MY CoUNTRYMEN: | shall have the
honor of presenting to you to-day the greatest
ruler on this earth. No King or Emperar
Car holds place with the President of the
American republic The right of inheritence
cannotconfer nor bold usurpation win an equal
honor to that conferred upon him to whom, by
the peaceful and unchallenged suffrage of
this people, their highest commission has been
given. It is the most sacred political trust that
can be confided to mortal stewardship. Our
pride and pleasure, sir, in welcoming you to-day
is emphasized by the knowledge that you have
lel0 Dl6 llSn COMMISSION WIN SlDlDi6 QlRIlby
and sincerity, and that you have honored this
high office with strong and stainless admins
tration. AS for this exposition, it is enough
to say that lawsuit is now pending
for the growing cotton crop of this
season that seventy days ago was Supplanted
in this field by these buildings. This exposition
is an evidence of the growth and prosperity of
the Piedmont section, and crude as it Is, it is
evidence of the rehabilitation of all our indus
trial record. Much of this is due to confidence
begotten by your election. and justified by your
administration. | can promise you, sir, in the
name of these good people a privilege to-day
that even President may esteem, the right to
look into the faces and hear the cordial welcome
of more Southerners than any living man has
ever seen assembled. My countrymen, l pre-
sent to you, your President.
CLEvELAND's REPLY.
The President replied as follows:
When in 1s45 a convention was held at Mem
phis, in the State of Tennessee, having for its
object the development of the resources of the
Eastern and Southern States, one of the most
prominent and far-seeing statesmen of the coun'
try foretold the importance of a point in
DeKalb county. in the State of Georgia, called
Atlanta, not far from the village of Decatur
This place was then properly called point, for
Atlanta was merely a name given to railroad
station here, having no fair pretenson to being
either village or city. 1t was two years after
this that the name was adopted by the people
of the little village of Marthasville when they
proudly acquired city charter, experiencing
all the incidents and struggles common to
municipal growth It had in 1861 population of
about 1900. Soon thereafter the thunders of
war sounded all about her, and a besieged army
occupied her streets and business places. Her
buildings and property were destroyed by both
armies, besieged and besiegers, to such an e&
tent that when the inhabitants in December
1884, returned to the city from which they had
been driven, they found their homes
wrecked and burned, and their city
a scene Of charred and desolate ruin.
Thus it is that Atlanta of to day may well be
said to date from 1865. have lately seen ev
dences of the activity and perseverance of the
people of the United States in the creation of
prosperous and buStling cities and in overcom-
ing difficulties that are inseparable from new
settlements and the growth of new cities, but
u seems to me an element OF herolsm is
added by the people who view without
wrought, who begin again to build up
their waste places and who, in spite Of
greatest discollragements, evince determine
ton to reach their destiny. In twenty-five years
a second Atlanta has been built incomrarably
larger more prosperous and fairer than the pc
stroyed Atlanta. Her place is first among the
cities of the great State; her constantly ncTeaS-
ing business, and her large manufacturing in
terests are evidences of the courage and enter.
prise of her people. They may well be proud of
the work of their hands, nor shall the glory of
sole qualification All their countrymen
may congratulate themselves. What has
here been done, is the result of Amer
lean courage and American enterprise.
Surely nothing should stand in the way of such
congratulations, and the citizen, who, seeing
these additions to the wealth and progress of
the nation, can not now from his heart proudly
say OF the people who have restored Atlanta,
These are my countrymen," forgets his fealty
TO American citizenship. The efforts of Atlanta
IN the direction of an improved condition
OF trade and business have not been selfish,
and crcumscribed. The International Cotton
Exposition of 1881 and the National Commercial
Convention of 1885. both important events,
Which originated with her people and were held
here, were Of great direct advantage to a large
section and of great benefit to the entire coun-
Try. To-day Atlanta holds another exposition
10 which the people of Georgia and neighboring
states are invited here to display their products
and their manufactures and give proof of
their resources. The occasion cannot
iall to lead to the best results.
Every man at all concerned in what is here eX-
hlblted will return to his home with new plans
and purposes which viii result in his increased
prosperity, and the aggregate Of this will make
lch and prosperous neighborhood. It's con
tdson makes a rich and prosperous state. we
olten hear of State noted for its excellent
products. This is not always the result OF fer.
.Ilty OF soil, or its adaptabty, but often OF
lne enterprise of its people in inaugurating
meet and take counsel and learn Of each other.
All of Georgia's neighborng States still feel the
impulse of the Cotton Exposition of 1881, and
we Commercial Convention OF 1895, and trust
.hat the Piedmont exhibition may prove or as
great benefit as these to the material welfare OF
tne large section of country which has con-
ulouted to its success.
CALLS FOR GORDON